Video Interview: After Four Decades of Leading Ann Arbor Pioneer Swimming, Denny Hill Ready to Move On

Photo Courtesy: SwimmingWorld.TV

AUSTIN, Texas, March 31. DENNY Hill will remember 2014 for the rest of his years, as it marked his final season coaching the historic Ann Arbor Pioneer swim teams and his entry into the National interscholastic Swim Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.

Before he was recognized by his peers for the NISCA Hall of Fame honor, Hill talked with Swimming World about 36 years of teaching and coaching in Michigan and why he decided this season would be his last.

“It’s just about time that we (he and wife/co-coach Liz) needed to do some other things,” Hill said between sessions of cheering for Michigan at the men’s NCAA championships. “It was the right time to give it somebody younger who would fit better with the kids.”

He talks about his working relationship with Jon Urbanchek and how Kara Lynn Joyce came to Pioneer and helped the school win the Swimming World national high school titles. He also offered his thoughts on the state of swimming now at the high school and college levels. Though he said he’s “falling behind” the times, his swimmers at Pioneer have continued to get faster and keep up with the major time drops taking place each year.

Author: Jeff Commings

Jeff Commings is the host of several shows on SwimmingWorld.TV, including "The Morning Swim Show," which features interviews with people making headlines in aquatic sports. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism and was a nine-time NCAA All-American.